V.A.
Legends Of Benin - Afro-Funk, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Beat (2009)
Label:   
Length:  1:19:55
    Track Listing:
      1.  
      Gnonnas Pedro - Dadje Von O Von Non    3:54
      2.  
      El Rego - Feeling You Got    3:44
      3.  
      Antoine Dougbe - Honton Soukpo Gnon    7:06
      4.  
      El Rego - E Nan Mian Nuku    4:28
      5.  
      Honore Avolonto - Tin Lin Non    8:48
      6.  
      Gnonnas Pedro - Okpo Videa Bassouo    3:30
      7.  
      Antoine Dougbe - Ya Mi Ton Gbo    6:37
      8.  
      Antoine Dougbe - Nou Akuenon Hwlin Me Sin Koussio    5:04
      9.  
      Honore Avolonto - Na Mi Do Gbe Hue Nu    6:47
      10.  
      El Rego - Vimado Wingnan    3:02
      11.  
      Honore Avolonto - Dou Dagbe We    4:26
      12.  
      El Rego - Djobime    2:32
      13.  
      Antoine Dougbe - Kovito Gbe De Towe    6:39
      14.  
      Gnonnas Pedro - La Musica En Verite    13:12
    Additional info: | top
      Various Artists - Legends Of Benin: Afro-Funk, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Beat
      Analog Africa: AACD 065 (1969-1981)
      Series: Analog Africa, v. 5

      01 Dadje Von O Von Non / Gnonnas Pedro; Les Dadjes 03:54
      02 Feeling You Got / El Rego; Les Commandos 03:44
      03 Honton Soukpo Gnon / Antoine Dougbé 07:06
      04 E Nan Mian Nuku / El Rego; Les Commandos 04:28
      05 Tin Lin Non / Honoré Avolonto; L'Orchestre Poly-Rythmo 08:48
      06 Okpo Videa Bassoruo / Gnonnas Pedro; Les Panchos 03:30
      07 Ya Mi Ton Gbo / Antoine Dougbé; L'Orchestre Poly-Rythmo 06:37
      08 Nou Akuenon Hwlin Me Sin Koussio / Antoine Dougbé 05:04
      09 Na Mi Do Gbé Hué Nu / Honoré Avolonto 06:47
      10 Vimado Wingnan / El Rego; Les Commandos 03:02
      11 Dou Dagbé Wé / Honoré Avolonto; L'Orchestre Black Santiago 04:26
      12 Djoblimé / El Rego; Les Commandos 02:32
      13 Kovito Gbe De Towe / Antoine Dougbé 06:39
      14 La Musica En Verité / Gnonnas Pedro; Les Dadjes 13:12

      Musicians
      Musicians: Gnonnas Pedro, El Rego, Antoine Dougbé, Honoré Avolonto
      Groups: Les Dadjes, Les Panchos, Les Commandos, L'Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, L'Orchestre Black Santiago

      Credits
      Liner Notes: Samy Ben Redjeb

      Details
      Recording Date: 1969-1981
      Date Of This Release: 2009
      UPC/EAC: 4260126060685

      Review
      AMG review by Chris Nickson
      It's funk, but refracted through a slightly bizarre prism. This music from Benin, recorded in the '70s, is definitely funky, and you can hear the American influence -- El Rego is a James Brown wannabe at times, although his band is looser -- but it's also strongly African in thought and execution. This excellent compilation focuses on four productive artists from the period, each of whom has his own take on the Benin sound, like different facets of a whole. The music of Antoine Dougbé flows, powered by guitar and percussion (just like all the bands here) and with some explosive brass and dynamic guitar work on "Honton Soukpo Gnon." Gnossas Pedro can take a poppier approach -- "Dadje Von O Von Non" wouldn't have sounded out of place in the Hot 100 in the 1960s -- but all of them can get rootsy under the Western influence. Imagine the Chambers Brothers crossed with the Super Rail Band and a touch of Fela Kuti and you have a rough approximation of the groups here, with Honore Avolonto very African on the percolating "Tin Lin Non." But what unites all the music here is a strong, thick groove, soulful and deep, with El Rego's "Djobime" particularly explosive. The men themselves are true characters, with professions ranging from brothel owner to voodoo priest. All in all, it's a storming collection and a very in-depth look at a time and place that's been ignored for far too long.
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